Case Studies of Making a Social Impact
From 4docs
The following case studies are from feature length docs - but there is no reason that similar models can't be adopted for short films. In fact, shorter docs might especially lend themselves to being used as a campaign tool.
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Chosen (directed by Brian Woods)
What is the Film About?
Directed by multi award-winning director Brian Woods (The Dying Rooms, Evicted, China’s Stolen Children), BAFTA winner Chosen is testament to the power of a compelling story, simply told. The film deals with a subject often whispered but rarely spoken about – the sexual abuse of boys in Britain’s private schools.
For thirty years the boys, and the men they became, stayed silent, nursing the dark secret of the abuse they suffered. But in this film, Tom, Mark and Alastair break the silence with spellbinding articulacy and breathtaking honesty – telling their stories straight to camera.
What has the film achieved?
From the offset, the strategy was to identify key partners who could help to branch out with the film and use it to create change around the issues at its heart.
Review in Parliament
Shortly after the More4 transmission of the film in September 2008, Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced an Independent Review of safeguarding policies and procedures that apply to independent schools, non-maintained special schools and boarding schools. The men featured in the film contributed to this review process, and the recently-published report by Sir Roger Singleton recognised serious failures in the current infrastructure for dealing with allegations of abuse in schools. The Chosen team continues to work with lawyers, child protection agencies and the DCSF to push for further changes in the way schools report allegations of child abuse, and is hopeful that these will be achieved.
Website
The site Chosen.org.uk supports the key messages in the film and includes pages with resources for parents, links and press coverage. So far it has had over 28,000 hits.
Postcard campaign
In the lead up to the More4 transmission in September 2008, 10,000 postcards were distributed amongst schools, parents and child protection professionals by the London branch of the national child abuse campaign Stop It Now! The cards included 4 questions, which parents can ask about the child protection policies at their children’s schools. The answers that they can expect to get back from the schools are also included on the website. They are planning to work again with Stop It Now! in 2009 to roll out the postcard campaign nationally.
Training DVD
A Training Edition of the film has been produced. This includes chaptered, themed excerpts and reference notes to help professionals involved in training social workers, LADOs, teachers, headteachers and police on how to identify and deal with cases of sexual abuse.
Special Screenings
In the run-up to the More4 broadcast, Stop It Now! worked with local Safeguarding Boards to host a number of screenings for invited audiences of school and child protection professionals. The screenings were organised to raise awareness of the issues, and to give those people who maybe affected by the public’s response to the film the opportunity to see it and think how they might respond to interest it generates.
Quotes
“A remarkable documentary, presenting difficult and complex issues in a sensitive and constructive manner. It is clear from the response to the film that it has successfully raised public understanding of the issues and I'm sure the film will win awards. It's a testament to the film's effectiveness that the Independent Safeguarding Authority will be using a themed edition of the film as a training aid.” Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families
“I feel Chosen has been one of the most important contributions televison has yet made to our social development...on a par with Cathy Come Home.” Jon Snow
We Are Together (directed by Paul Taylor)
What is the Film About?
Filmed over three years, We Are Together, tells the remarkable and moving story of 12 year old Slindile and her friends at the Agape Orphanage in South Africa who use music to overcome hardship and loss in the face of adversity. Through the charismatic lead character, the film succeeds i giving a human face to the African AIDS crisis. And while Slindile lives her fair share of tragedy, the film has an uplifting ending as the choir travel to New York to perform in concert with Alicia Keys and Paul Simon. Check out the films website.
Coverage
The film won the audience awards at the Tribeca, IDFA and Edinburgh International Film Festivals. The film's producers partnered with EMI and (RED) in the UK for its cinema, DVD and soundtrack release. Palm Pictures and the ONE campaign handles the US release. The film was broadcast on Channel 4 and HBO.
What has the Film Achieved?
The One Campaign
We Are Together is a powerful and emotional tool in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. It offers a refreshing sense of hope and in the face of such adversity. The film is supported by the charity Keep a Child Alive. All proceeds from the film and soundtrack are being donated to an education program for the children of the Agape orphanage through the RISE Foundation. On the back of the festival screenings alone, the RISE Foundation (set up by the films director and producer) has already raised over £150,000.